Tonight’s show was a rare event.
Mary McMantus told us her story of surviving Polio as a five year old child, then later on in her life, contracting Post Polio Syndrome.
Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. PPS is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and in muscles that seemingly were unaffected. Symptoms include slowly progressive muscle weakness, unaccustomed fatigue (both generalized and muscular), and, at times, muscle atrophy. Pain from joint degeneration and increasing skeletal deformities such as scoliosis are common. Some patients experience only minor symptoms. While less common, others may develop visible muscle atrophy, or wasting.
Patients diagnosed with PPS sometimes are concerned that they are having polio again and are contagious to others. Studies have shown that this does not happen. (Taken from a public domain government fact sheet.)
Apparently, some doctors do not believe PPS exists. Mary’s doctors accused her of making up all of her symptoms.
Yet Mary’s attitude about all of this is non-judgmental and non-accusatory. She began to write poetry.
And she read a few of her poems to us on the show.
She ran and completed the Boston Marathon this year.
What struke me about Mary is her completely optimistic and loving spirit. Nothing critical or depressed about her. She exudes total empowerment.
So here is our show for this week. The world needs to hear this show.
Please listen!!
Kate Loving Shenk
Moon, Moo and You is now on iTunes!!
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